Date | Sept 28, 2016:

Last month, after a five-year struggle, the Bihar Pollution Board cancelled permissions for seven asbestos plants across the state due after incessant efforts from various activists group and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The activist groups had listened to the anxious villagers near the factories, especially in Bhojpur where a factory had employed more than 500. They complained of hazardous factories that manufactured chrysotile white asbestos-cement products. The toxic waste from the factories had been dumped indiscriminately in the adjoining villages and the agricultural fields.

One of the workers in the factory had also died after died due to a chronic lung disease (Asbestosis). The daughter of the worker had filed a case with the Human Rights Commission and they had ruled it in her favour.

More than 50 nations, including all members of the European Union (EU), have banned all forms of asbestos, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says kills at least 1,07,000 people annually.

In India, however, asbestos-mining is banned by law and trade in asbestos waste including dust and fibre, is also banned. But the process of banning trade, manufacturing and use of chrysotile or white asbestos, is still held up in court.

Earlier this month, a paper titled Status of occupational health of workers in hazardous industries: An inquiry into asbestos and ship breaking industry published in the Labour & Development Journal by V. V. Giri National Labour Institute, the Ministry of Labour & Employment said, "The condition of the workforce is worse than the worst industrial sector - the mining industry. This dehumanisation linked to the externalisation of human cost by global and national companies. The workers of the hazardous industries constitute part of the community of fate to which all wretched of the earth belong with no remedy from occupational health crisis in sight."

The harsh conclusion is drawn from a study of employees and the environments in which these workers are compelled to work in, including the factories in Bhojpur.

But why hasn't it been banned already?

Activists attribute the law being lenient due to the corporate influence on the asbestos companies. Activists say the promotion of asbestos continues despite the fact that alternatives to asbestos are present.

The Environment Ministry's Vision Statement on Environment and Human Health reads, "Alternatives to asbestos may be used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out", but an Experts Appraisal Committee of the very same ministry continues to give environmental clearance to such hazardous industries.

The Labour Ministry, however, stated that way back in 2011, "The Government of India is considering the ban on the use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure."

(Source: http://www.catchnews.com/)